Hybrid Event - In-person & Virtual!
The Premier Event for Leasing and Finance Accounting Professionals
The largest annual gathering of lease accountants and those responsible for financial reporting keeps attendees abreast of developments involving rule-making activities of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, international accounting standard-setters, state and federal tax authorities and other regulatory bodies. The agenda also includes timely sessions on the updated lease accounting standards and multiple sessions ranging from basic lease accounting for the newly hired accountant to discussions of complex and emerging accounting issues and their impact on business practices. A FASB board member participates in the program each year.
The ELFA Lease and Finance Accountants Conference will again be held concurrently with the ELFA Operations and Technology Conference. Both conferences will share a tabletop exhibit targeting companies that provide lease and finance accounting software and other technology-related processes and systems.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities
A table top exhibition is held in conjunction with this conference and many sponsorship opportunities are available. To receive more information about exhibiting or sponsoring, please contact Steve Wafalosky at 440-247-1060 or stevew@cvmpmedia.com.
ELFA Members: Get a $50 discount when you register for both the Lease and Finance Accountants Conference and The Tax Best Practices Roundtable. For questions contact Janet Fianko at
jfianko@elfaonline.org.
Choose a Package
Who Should Attend
Accountants, CFOs, controllers, tax managers, treasurers, finance directors and others responsible for financial reporting activities, plus any business professionals or advisors who must be familiar with the impact of accounting on their transactions or activities.
Exhibitor & Sponsorship Opportunities
An exhibition is held in conjunction with this conference and many sponsorship opportunities are available. To receive more information about exhibiting or sponsoring, please contact Steve Wafalosky at 440-247-1060 or stevew@larichadv.com.
Two Conferences for the Price of One!
The ELFA Operations & Technology Conference and Exhibition will again be held concurrently with the ELFA Lease and Finance Accountants Conference. Both conferences will share a table top exhibit area targeting companies that provide lease and finance accounting software, and other technology-related processes and systems.
Registration Fees
| Price Description |
Amount |
| 1st Attendee from Member Company |
$1355.00 |
| Additional Attendee - Member |
$1305.00 |
| Attendee - Non Member (All) |
$2715.00 |
| Committee - Member |
$610.00 |
| First Time Attending This Conference(Members Only) |
$1160.00 |
| Speaker - Member (Attending Entire Conference) |
$610.00 |
| Speaker - Non Member (Attending Entire Conference) |
$610.00 |
| Spouse/Companion of Non Member |
$215.00 |
| Virtual Attendee - Member Company |
$595.00 |
| Virtual Attendee - Non Member |
$795.00 |
View cancellation and other policies
Conference Schedule & Networking Events
This conference qualifies for CPE credits!
ELFA is a recognized sponsor of continuing professional education with many State Boards of Accountancy and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy U.S.(NASBA). Attendance at this conference may be used to fulfill your annual continuing education requirements.
- Knowledge Level: Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Overview
- Program Type: Group-live event & Exhibition
- Prerequisite or Advanced Preparation Requirements: None
- NASBA Field of Study: Accounting
Learning Objectives
After attending this conference, you will be able to:
- Identify strategies that work best for you and recognize when to use them in your workplace.
- Demonstrate the ability to make accurate equipment leasing decisions based on the content provided.
- Learners will collectively have brainstormed, articulated, captured and addressed pertinent issues or concerns in their industry.
Available Functions
| Sunday - September 08 |
| 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm |
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Dine Around
Note: An email will be sent out prior to the conference with instructions for choosing your desired restaurant.
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| Monday - September 09 |
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Equipment Finance and Compassion Unite for a Cause!
ELFA Operations and Technology Conference is partnering with Blood Assurance to host a blood donation event. Join us and help make a difference in the lives of others. Your contribution can make a significant difference!
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Dietary Restrictions
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| 9:30 am - 11:30 am |
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PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION - Process and Controls Roundtable
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PRE-CONFERENCE SESSION - Soft Skills Roundtable
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| 5:00 pm - 5:45 pm |
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New Attendees Reception
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| Tuesday - September 10 |
| 6:30 am - 7:30 am |
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5K Fun Run
Start the day with a little exercise and join your colleagues for a 5K fun run.
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Speakers
Therese Babiash
Director of Accounting Policy
GATX Corporation
Therese Babiash is the Director of Accounting Policy at GATX Corporation. Therese leads the technical accounting research efforts for GATX’s significant accounting transactions, the development and maintenance of company accounting policies, and the assessment and implementation of accounting pronouncements. In addition, Therese leads the corporate accounting and financial reporting for GATX’s spare engine aircraft leasing operations. Prior to joining GATX, Therese was the head of the Global Accounting Policy group at LKQ Corporation where she led LKQ’s implementation of ASC 606 and ASC 842. Therese began her career at KPMG Chicago in the audit practice serving primarily consumer markets and manufacturing clients. She graduated from the University of Missouri – Columbia with a Masters in Accounting and is a member of the AICPA.
John Bober
Managing Member
IXL Lease Advisory Services, LLC
John chairs the accounting and reporting committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA) and was the 2014 recipient of the ELFA’s Distinguished Service Award. As the managing member at IXL Lease Advisory Services, LLC, John specializes in lease accounting and financial reporting. He is also a senior consultant to Ernst & Young LLP.
John retired in 2018 after a 23-year career with GE Capital, where he primarily focused on vendor finance arrangements and the leasing of equipment as well as managing all aspects of General Electric Company’s Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) lease accounting project. He has been active in the accounting standards setting process, having served on both the Emerging Issues Task Force and the Accounting Standards Executive Committee working groups. John was a member of the joint FASB and IASB international working group on lease accounting. Active in Financial Executives International, he is the past chair of their leases working group.
John joined GE Capital in 1995 and held various positions in finance, risk and general management within GE Capital and GE Energy Financial Services. He managed the group within GE Energy Financial Services responsible for the analysis of economic returns from equity and debt investments, project financings, partnerships and large ticket leases, including lease pricing. Prior to joining GE in 1995, John was a partner with an international accounting firm, based in both Jakarta, Indonesia and New York. He frequently speaks at industry conferences on matters related to current developments in finance and accounting.
John has a BA in History from Tulane University. He is also an MPA from the University of Texas at Austin and is a past member of the Department of Accounting Advisory Council and of the McCombs School of Business BBA-MPA Alumni Advisory Board.
Fred Cannon
Board Member
Financial Accounting Standards Board
Frederick L. (Fred) Cannon joined the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) on July 1, 2021. His first term concludes June 30, 2026, and he is eligible to be considered for reappointment to a second term. Mr. Cannon brings to the Board a deep understanding of financial services and a strong user perspective. An accomplished economist and financial analyst, he has almost 40 years of experience in diverse roles with a strong focus on research, equity strategy, investor relations, and corporate communications. Prior to joining the FASB, Mr. Cannon served as director of research and chief equity strategist for Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., a subsidiary of Stifel Financial (NYSE: SF). He joined the firm in 2003 as vice president and was later promoted to senior vice president and managing director before attaining his most recent position. He began his career as an economist with Bank of America Corporation, steadily rising to positions of increased responsibility. In 1998, he joined Golden State Bancorp as executive vice president and director of investor relations and corporate communications. Often quoted in the financial press, Mr. Cannon was also a regular guest on CNBC, Bloomberg Television, as well as other national radio and broadcast television outlets. Additionally, he served as a member of the FASB transition resource group for the current expected credit losses (CECL) standard. Mr. Cannon holds a Master of Science, Agricultural Economics, from Cornell University and is a chartered financial analyst (CFA). Mr. Cannon is currently a member of the CFA Institute.
Eileen Chan
Executive Director
Ernst & Young LLP
Eileen Chan is an Executive Director within Ernst & Young LLP's Financial Accounting and Advisory Services (FAAS) Group based in New York with over 15 years of experience.
Eileen is a subject matter resource for lease accounting and provides on-call, technical accounting assistance for critical business decisions. Eileen also helps to lead the accounting change efforts around the FASB and IASB's project for leases, which includes developing a comprehensive solution to help companies understand and plan for the FASB and IASB's new lease standards.
Eileen is a licensed CPA in the State of New York. Eileen received a Bachelor of Business Administration in Public Accounting from Pace University. Eileen is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Daniel Court
Global Controller
Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation
Dan Court is the global controller for Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (Cat Financial), with responsibility for global financial accounting and reporting operations. He has nearly 20 years of experience in the finance and accounting industry.
Dan began his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he worked in the audit practice. While there, he was based in both Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Singapore, where he was a senior manager with responsibilities for leading global and regional teams and servicing multiple, Fortune 500 clients.
In 2015, Dan joined Caterpillar Inc. as a technical accounting manager, where he was part of a team that provided guidance and support on complex business transactions, while helping to ensure the correctness of the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) external and internal management, financial reporting. Since then he’s held various roles of increasing responsibilities, including serving in multiple international assignments for the company, most recently as the Cat Financial regional controller for the Asia Pacific region and based in Singapore.
Dan holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). He resides in Nashville, Tennessee, with his wife, and their two young children.
Matt Esposito
Partner
Grant Thornton LLP
Matt is a Partner in the Accounting Advisory Services practice of Grant Thornton LLP and is located in New York City.
Matt has over 20 years of experience advising on technical accounting issues under U.S. GAAP and IFRS. He has focused on technical accounting related to revenue recognition, leasing, debt and equity classification, consolidation, derivatives and hedging, credit losses, and financial asset transfers.
Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Matt was a Managing Director and Global Head of Accounting Policy for Citigroup’s Institutional Client Group. During this time, he also chaired the North America Accounting Committee for ISDA. Prior to his role at Citigroup, Matt was an Assistant Director of Technical Activities at the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) where he was the lead staff member on final standards related to financial instruments, credit losses (CECL), hedging activities, leasing, and consolidation.
Matt began his career with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) in New York where he became a Director in the Financial Instruments and Credit Group and an alum of their National Professional Services Group.
Yu-Chieh Gola
IBM Financing Technical Accounting Manager
IBM Financing
Yu-Chieh has over two decades of experience at IBM Accounting in both technical and management roles. Currently, in her role as a Senior Financing Technical Manager, she provides in-depth technical guidance on the origination of IBM Financing volumes through consultations with IBM Financing sellers and executives. She plays a critical role in reviewing and supporting new financial offerings, leading a global team of experts in contract review processes.
Previously, Yu-Chieh served as the WW Financing Segment Reporting, Analysis & Disclosure Senior Manager, where she managed the preparation of SEC filings and the implementation of productivity initiatives within Financing. She also led complex software transactional reviews and provided advanced technical accounting guidance on the establishment of standalone selling prices. Earlier in her career, Yu-Chieh was the CHQ Balance Sheet Accounting Senior Manager, where she presented detailed financial results to top executives and prepared comprehensive Board and Audit Committee materials. Her extensive experience also includes managing global statutory filings, leading IFRS adoption projects, and providing expert technical advice across various regions.
Marc Jerusalem
Managing Director, Accounting & Consulting Services
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Marc Jerusalem
Director, Accounting Services Group, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Marc is a director in PwC’s National Accounting Services Group. In this role, Marc consults with colleagues and clients on how to account for a broad range of complex transactions. Many of the issues he deals with are about leasing transactions, which are surprisingly multi-faceted. As a global specialist on this topic, Marc liaises with accounting experts throughout the profession, and helps PwC develop its thought leadership on leasing transactions.
Marc is a frequent presenter on a variety of accounting topics and serves on the Financial Accounting Committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, an equipment lessor trade association.
Prior to serving in PwC’s national office, Marc was an auditor in the firm’s Assurance practice in Detroit. Marc's clients ranged from pre-revenue start-ups to multi-national public companies, principally in high technology, manufacturing, and automotive industries. Marc graduated Wayne State University in Detroit, is a Chartered Global Management Accountant, and a CPA licensed in Michigan and New Jersey.
Tim Kolber
Managing Director | Accounting Advisory & Transformation Services
Deloitte
Tim is a Managing Director in Deloitte’s Accounting Advisory & Transformation Services practice where he leads the Accounting Standard Implementation service offering and the Lease Accounting Standard sub-offering on a National level. In this role, Tim leads or serves as a technical resource on various accounting standard implementation projects where he assists clients with the application of complex accounting guidance and the implementation of new accounting standards. Recent experiences include assisting various entities with the implementation of the FASB’s and IASB’s new lease accounting standards.
Tim has close to 20 years of experience in the accounting profession (more than 14 of those years at Deloitte) and is one of the firm’s leading lease accounting experts from both the US GAAP (ASC 842/ASC 840) and IFRS (IFRS 16/IAS 17) perspectives. In this role, he engages in discussions with professionals at the other Large Firms on interpreting the new guidance and interacts with various industry groups and Fortune 100 companies on how to apply the guidance. Tim is also one of the primary authors of Deloitte’s Leases Roadmap.
Jeffrey Lezinski
SVP Solution Architecture
Odessa
Jeff is Odessa’s SVP, Solution Architecture, instrumental in architecting Odessa’s functional solutions since he joined the company in 2004. Jeff currently serves on the ELFA Accounting Committee and participates as a liaison to various industry and regulatory bodies. Prior to Odessa, Jeff worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP where he participated in and managed various engagements from a consulting and an audit perspective for a variety of industries, including financial services, pharmaceutical, and telecommunications. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Haverford College.
Leigh Lytle
President and CEO
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association
Leigh Lytle is the President and CEO of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association (ELFA), the premier trade association representing 575+ member organizations in the $1 trillion equipment finance sector. In her role, Ms. Lytle leads the association in executing its mission and delivering on the value proposition to its members. This includes providing a platform to promote and advocate for the industry, including attracting and developing new and diverse talent; a forum for professional development and training; and a resource that develops information about, and for, the industry. She also serves as the President of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (ELFF), which is dedicated to inspiring thoughtful innovation and contributing to the betterment of the equipment leasing and finance industry.
Before joining ELFA, Ms. Lytle served as the Head of North American Policy at Plaid and led education and engagement efforts with regulators and financial institutions. In this role, she advocated for protecting consumers' rights within the digital financial ecosystem and in Washington, D.C. She also served as the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Financial Technology Association (FTA), which represents innovative companies shaping the future of finance. The industry trade group champions the power of technology-centered financial services and advocates for the modernization of financial regulation to support inclusion and responsible innovation. Before joining Plaid, Ms. Lytle spent over 15 years in the Federal Reserve Bank system in various executive roles ranging from engagements in monetary and regulatory policy to operations and data analytics oversight.
Zack Marsh CLFP
SVP – Accounting & Analysis
AP Equipment Financing
Mr. Marsh has spent over twenty-four years in the small business lending space. A graduate of Washington State University, Zack began working for a small ticket equipment lessor where he helped design and build analytical tools for the portfolio management team. Soon after that he joined a startup portfolio servicing company where he then spent the next twenty years building and managing the accounting, finance, and analytics functions (as well as many other areas) of that organization. Then in 2023, Mr. Marsh began a new chapter of his career when he joined AP Equipment Financing. His current role provides AP with a strategic leader focusing on the finance and analytics functions of the company.
Zack is active within the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association and he currently serves as Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation (ELFF). Mr. Marsh has also served as Vice Chair & Treasurer/Secretary of the ELFF, Chair of the Academic Outreach Committee, Chair of the Emerging Talent Advisory Council and as a member of the Small Ticket Business Council Steering Committee. He obtained his Certified Leasing & Finance Professional (CLFP) credentials in 2004. Zack lives with his wife and three kids in Sumner, WA where they take time away to enjoy skiing, golf, and camping.
Michael Nesta
Partner, Accounting Advisory Services
KPMG LLP
Michael has over 20 years of experience providing assurance services, technical accounting advice, and transaction accounting support under US GAAP and IFRS to audit and non-audit clients. Michael began his career at the Financial Accounting Standards Board as a postgraduate technical assistant and provided assurance services prior to joining KPMG’s Accounting Advisory Services group. Michael is a national instructor for KPMG in the areas of Leasing, Revenue Recognition, Business Combinations and Share-Based Payments and participates in topic team meetings in those areas with KPMG’s national office. Michael also is the national leader for KPMG’s Complex Accounting Group within Accounting Advisory.
Kelli Nienaber
Executive Director
Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation
Kelli Nienaber is the Executive Director of the Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation in Washington, DC. Having been in this role since 2011, she is the primary conduit to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees and volunteer governance committees. She oversees the business and staff of the Foundation, which propels the $1 trillion equipment finance sector—and its people—forward with its industry-specific knowledge, intelligence, and programs. Through free studies, internships, and Guest Lecture opportunities, the Foundation helps industry professionals navigate the changes coming up and make better business and personal career decisions.
Prior to the Foundation, Kelli’s career was focused in the government relations/political arena. She has successfully managed political involvement and grassroots campaigns, as well as developed and executed federal and state legislative strategy in corporate and trade association organizations. She began her professional career in the public sector working for former U.S. Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) both in his Washington, DC office and in her home state of Missouri.
Kelli holds a B.A. in political science from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is an active volunteer serving on non-profit Boards in her community. Kelli and her husband Brian reside in Alexandria, VA with their four children.
Candace Reinhart CLFP
COO/CXO
CoreTech Leasing, Inc.
With over two decades of experience as a Certified Lease and Finance Professional (CLFP), Candace has consistently harnessed her expertise to drive operational efficiencies and establish scalable solutions in the realm of equipment leasing. Her extensive tenure in the industry has molded her into an equipment generalist and fervent enthusiast for the nuances of equipment lease dynamics.
At the heart of her journey lies CoreTech Leasing, where Candace has assumed the pivotal roles of Chief Operating Officer and Chief Experience Officer. Guiding Operations and Syndications, she orchestrates strategic initiatives that amplify client value on a grand scale, solidifying CoreTech's standing as an industry frontrunner.
Candace's CLFP accreditation underscores her unwavering commitment to continuous learning and mastery of industry intricacies. This qualification empowers her to navigate intricate financial landscapes with finesse, shaping informed decisions that resonate across CoreTech's operational landscape.
Through adept leadership, she not only sustains CoreTech's competitive edge but propels it to unprecedented altitudes, infusing innovation into every operational facet. Her all-encompassing experience provides her with a holistic perspective on operational workflows, enabling her to forge seamless synergies between departments and foster collaborative excellence.
Candace's dedication to refining operational nuances, coupled with her strategic acumen, has earned her a reputation as a dynamic leader who transforms concepts into reality. By steering Operations and Syndications, she engineers fluid client experiences that resonate profoundly, solidifying CoreTech's position as an industry vanguard synonymous with excellence.
In essence, Candace's professional voyage is marked by an unrelenting pursuit of operational mastery, a fervent zeal for equipment leasing, and an unwavering dedication to propelling CoreTech Leasing towards an innovative and prosperous future.
Joseph Sebik
Director of Tax
Siemens Financial Services, Inc.
Joe Sebik is a Director of Tax Reporting in Siemens Corporation, covering Siemens Financial Services, Siemens’ US captive financing subsidiary. Joe supports the tax aspects of Siemens Financial Services’ leasing and structured financing transactions, including alternative energy financings.
Joe has over 30-years of experience in the leasing industry including experience in accounting, financial reporting, transaction structuring and taxation. He has been a member of the ELFA’s Accounting Committee for over 20-years where he has actively assisted the Accounting Committee in many ways, including regularly presenting at the ELFA Accounting Conferences and writing numerous articles for the Equipment Leasing Today magazine. Joe is also the Chairman of the Federal Tax Committee of the ELFA and has introduced two recurring tax-oriented training sessions into the Accounting Conference.
Joe has written six reference portfolios on lease accounting and lessor economics for Bloomberg/BNA, as well as co-authoring 2 portfolios on accounting for Variable Interest Entities and assisting on other accounting-related portfolios. Joe has regularly written about the leasing industry and has previously provided comment letters to the FASB on lease-related topics.
Prior to joining Siemens Corporation, Joe worked for Citicorp Global Equipment Finance, JPMorgan’s Tax Oriented Investments group, Chase Equipment Leasing, IBM Credit Corporation and Price Waterhouse.
Joe holds a Bachelors degree in Accounting from Queens College of the City University of NY and is also a Certified Public Accountant licensed in New York State.
Charlie Shannon
Partner
Moss Adams LLP
Charlie has a combined 20 years of private and public accounting experience. Charlie specializes in providing auditing, compliance, and consulting services to both private and publicly held financial institutions, leasing companies, asset-based lenders, debt buyers, payment processors, and other financial services companies. Charlie is a frequent author and speaker for various state and national trade associations, including the Western Independent Banker's magazine. Charlie is also a member of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association's Financial Accounting Committee.
Mamta Shori
CFO
Wells Fargo Equipment Finance
Finance executive with extensive financial services experience with the ability to inspire necessary cultural change to deliver finance process improvement, simplification, and cost saving strategies.
Proven track record in delivering high value analysis, reporting and forecasts by establishing highly effective commercial and operational partnerships.
Significant experience in shaping organizations to transform back-office functions using lean principles, innovative problem solving, improving control structure and supporting strategic business initiatives.
Amie Sweeney
Vice President
CBRE
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Amie D. Sweeney is a Vice President for the Corporate Capital Markets group within CBRE. Ms. Sweeney is responsible for the preparation and analysis of a wide variety of financial models associated with the sale and financing of proposed and existing single-tenant assets. Ms. Sweeney provides analytical support for various alternatives and financial structures governed by accounting, tax, regulatory, and other considerations important to the needs of corporate, institutional, and developer clients. Her work also includes assisting with the research and preparation of proposals and offering memoranda for use in the capital markets
In addition to her duties as Vice President for the Corporate Capital Markets, Ms. Sweeney is the technical expert on the upcoming changes to lease accounting for CCM as well as one of the experts within CBRE. Ms. Sweeney sits on the Financial Accounting Committee for the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association the country's premier leasing organization, and the Finance and Investment Committees for CREW Network at the national level. She is a frequent speaker on lease accounting, has written many articles and white papers, and has been widely quoted on the topic.
Ms. Sweeney has over 25 years of accounting experience and has worked in public accounting, as a corporate controller, and a financial manager. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Ohio State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
EDUCATION
Ohio State BS in Accounting
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Equipment Leasing and Finance Association Financial Accounting Committee
CREW Finance and Investment Committees American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
CBRE Women's Network CBRE Lease Accounting Task Force
Shelly Tauer CLFP
SVP, EF Systems Product Group Manager
U.S. Bank
Shelly has been with U.S. Bank for 30 years. She began her career as an underwriter in 1994 with Lyon Financial, a small ticket leasing company that was later acquired by U.S. Bank in September 2000. She has held a variety of positions all within U.S. Bank Equipment Finance including Special Projects, Collections Management, Sales, Operations Manager, Customer Integration and Support Manager, Project Manager, Security Manager and System Technology Manager. She continues to oversee the Security and System Technology teams with added responsibilities as of 2022 to include Project Management, Professional Development and Training, Modeling and Analytics and EF Applications teams. She is currently a member of the ELFA's (Equipment Leasing Finance Association) Research Committee and the Operations and Technology Planning Committee and earned her CLFP (Certified Leasing Finance Professional) Certification in 2018.
Shelly and her husband, Bill, have 3 grown children Abby (husband Josh), Lexi and Jake along with 2 grandchildren, Grayson (3) and Saelah (1). They are avid local and MN sports fans and cherish time with their grandchildren as well as family and friends enjoying water sports, pontoon rides and campfires at their lake home on Lake Shetek.
Rick Thompson
Director, Structuring & Transaction Management
Bank of America Global Leasing
Rick is a Director of Structuring & Transaction Management at Bank of America Global Leasing with over 20 years of experience structuring and executing bespoke, solutions-oriented leases and loans of strategically important capital expenditure projects and portfolio and company acquisitions.
Previously, Rick was the CFO of Beacon Rail Leasing, an independent global leasing company, responsible for all financial operations of the company including capital raising (debt and equity), investment underwriting, treasury, financial reporting and audit, governance and compliance. Rick was an integral part of the management team that grew Beacon Rail Leasing from start-up to an industry leader.
Brian White
Manager, Financial Reporting & Consolidations
John Deere Financial
Brian is the Manager, Financial Reporting & Consolidations at John Deere Financial (JDF), which is the financial services segment of Deere & Company. In this role, Brian leads the consolidation of worldwide financial results, SEC and regulatory reporting, and treasury accounting for JDF units. In addition, Brian has responsibility for technical accounting research and accounting policy at JDF.
Prior to joining JDF, Brian was an auditor with Ernst & Young in Des Moines, IA, primarily focusing on clients in the insurance industry. Brian is a licensed CPA in the state of Iowa and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting and a Master of Accounting degree.
Jay Wilensky
Senior Vice President, Accounting & Finance
Sasser Family Companies
Jay Wilensky is Senior Vice President of Accounting & Finance for Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co, a subsidiary of Sasser Family Holdings. He is his second year as chairman of the financial accounting committee of the Equipment Leasing and Finance Association, an advocacy organization for the $1 trillion leasing industry.
He is also the founder of the Railcar Leasing Coalition, a consortium of companies in the railcar leasing industry he led to collaborate with the accounting firms and the FASB and IASB Boards on interpretation and development of best practices on leasing related accounting standards. Additionally, he has been chairman of the tax committee of the Railway Supply Institute for two separate terms. Accordingly, he has presented at many different industry conferences. He currently serves on the Transportation Executive Board and the Accounting Advisory Board of the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University.
He began his career in public accounting with KPMG, where he was a senior supervisor on audit engagements in a wide variety of industries. He is in his 38th year with the Sasser Companies and Chicago Freight Car Leasing Co, taking on increasing roles and responsibilities during his tenure leading up to his current position. He is a CPA, CGMA, and has been active in many professional organizations including the Illinois CPA Society, AICPA, and Institute of Managerial Accountants. He graduated from Indiana University - Bloomington, the Kelley School of Business earning a BS with a concentration in accounting.
Edmund Wong
Senior Director of Sales
Ivory Consulting Corporation
Hotel Information
A block of rooms is being held for attendees of the 2024 Lease and Finance Accountants Conference at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown, 708 Demonbreun St, Nashville, TN 37203, at a discounted rate of $289 +tax. Check in time is 4:00 pm and check-out time is 11:00 am. Please call Reservations at 1 (800) 774-1500 or use the web link below before August 20, 2024. Reservations made after August 20, 2024 are based on availability and maybe at a higher rate.
Getting There
Next to Music City Center and Bridgestone Arena, the Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown all-suite hotel is perfect for exploring downtown Nashville. The hotel is within a mile of the State Capitol, Ryman Auditorium, and Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. And 10 minutes from Vanderbilt and Tennessee State Universities. Enjoy dinner and drinks with a view from the 30th floor restaurant and bar.
Public Transportation
The Embassy Suites by Hilton Nashville Downtown is 8 miles from the Nashville International Airport (BNA). Approximate cost from the airport to the hotel via a ride-share app option is $49 one way.
Parking
Self parking is not available at the hotel, but there are various Nashville City lots surrounding the hotel property for self parking options.
Valet parking is available at the hotel for $62 per day.
Things To Do
Do you have some spare time with visiting Nashville? Are you looking for a few fun things to do and get to know a new city? Here is a website with a lot of different options, www.Viator.com/Nashville-tourism/ maybe a few will be exactly what you are looking for!
Embassy Suites Nashville Downtown
708 Demonbreun St
Nashville, TN 37203
Get directions
